Downloadable Games: Future or Fad?

With the introduction of larger hard drives and faster internet connections, downloadable games have seen their presence in the gaming industry grow considerably since the launch of the current generation of consoles. But with Sony hyping bluray as the evolution of DVDs since the Playstation 3 debuted back in 2006, is bypassing physical media truly the future of games?

Consider that since its launch in 2004, the Xbox Live Arcade has grown from a small collection of games, most of which were re-releases of classic games like Gauntlet and Ms. Pac Man, to a library numbering in the hundreds. And the Arcade hasn’t simply been a place for companies to cash in on older titles. Small and independent developers that lack the backing of a big publisher like Activision have found success there as well.

Developer PopCap Games has found success on XBLA with hits like Bejeweled (above), Peggle (below), and Plants vs. Zombies.

Being a longtime gamer, I understand that there is a certain fondness for having a physical copy of a game. And there’s an odd feeling of pride, seeing that vast collection of titles accumulated over a lifetime of gaming. But to be honest, how many of those games do you truly cherish? I wouldn’t give up my mint condition Twisted Metal II for anything, but I don’t extend that same sentimental value to something like Homefront.

Let’s say you don’t have an emotional attachment to a particular game, and you couldn’t care less about supporting a fledgling game developer. It still makes economic sense to go diskless. Buying a downloadable copy of a game is often $10 to $15 cheaper without the cost of printing a disc or manual. What’s more, you get it instantly, without having to use gas driving to the store. You can always download the game again if you delete it, and there’s no risk of scratching up the disk.

If only pictures had sound...

Why fumble around opening cases and exchanging disks when you could simply select the game you want from a list, and play. It may sound like nothing, but it’s just one more way downloadable games are cutting the fat out of the overall experience. They embody the streamlined, less-is-more attitude of the modern consumer; which is why downloadable games are becoming a larger part of mainstream entertainment than their traditional counterparts. How could an experience like Mass Effect, which requires hours of investment, compete with something so instantly gratifying as hearing Beethoven’s “Ode To Joy” blaring as you beat a level in Peggle?

In Eyetoy Play, you must dance to free your soul from those horrible teletubbie things.

 From Nintendo’s Virtual Boy to Sony’s Eye Toy, the gaming industry has seen its share of short-lived, “next big thing” technology. But downloadable games offer practicality rather than flashy gimmicks, which has, and will continue to aid in its success. It may take some time, but eventually downloadable gaming will become the standard of entertainment consumption.